Michigan 20, Ohio State 14
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January 1, 1998
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JNDEFEATED WOLVERINES HEAD TO ROSE BOWL AFTER GRITTY VICTORY
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'M' back in
Rose Bowl
after 5 years
By Alan Godenbach
Daily Sports Editor
Four consecutive four-loss seasons and a five-
year absence from the Rose Bowl had many con-
vinced that the Michigan football program was
stumbling into a pit of mediocrity.
Now, the doubts have disappeared and roses
have taken their place. Michigan is going back
to the Rose Bowl with a chance to win its first
national title since the 1948 season. The top-
ranked Wolverines capped their first perfect reg-
ular season since 1971 with a 20-14 victory
Saturday over No. 4 Ohio State before a record
crowd of 106,982 at Michigan Stadium.
The Wolverines will face No. 10 Washington
State in Pasadena on Jan. 1, in what will be
Michigan's 17th Rose Bowl appearance.
With Florida State losing to Florida, the
Wolverines and No. 2 Nebraska (10-0 with two
games before its bowl game left on its schedule)
remain the only two undefeated teams in the
nation. The Seminoles' loss Saturday vaulted
Michigan to the top of the USA Today/ESPN
Coaches poll.
The victory was highlighted by the grit of the
nation's top-ranked defense with a dash of flash
provided by perhaps the best player in the coun-
try, All-Everything Charles Woodson.
Three big plays from Woodson helped give
Michigan a 20-0 lead: a 37-yard reception that
set up the game's first touchdown, a 78-yard
punt return that put Michigan ahead, 13-0, and
an interception in the end zone in the third quar-
ter.
"Great players play big in big games,"
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I think
Charles Woodson certainly played one of his
greatest games in the very, very biggest game
that we have at Michigan, in a game that meant
everything to us."
Woodson's first game-breaking play came just
See ROSE BOWL, Page 3
Wolvenkes are
not/ig short
of magical
A football season that can only be
described as magical ended two days ago
in triumph. Down went the hated
Buckeyes, along with the doubts, the suspicions
and the anxiety.
Gone are the critics who said Lloyd Carr
could not coach. Those
who doubted Brian
Griese's ability have mys-
teriously disappeared,
faded into the background,
left with no choice but to
proclaim that Michigan is,
indeed, the best team in
JOHN the land.
LEROI There have been unde-
Out of feated seasons and Rose
Bounds Bowl berths before, but
none have been won with':
such parity in college
football, none since Penn State joined the Big
Ten, none since the Battle for the Roses was
between Michigan and Ohio State ... and
MARGARET MYM/Daily
lichigan cornerback Charles Woodson trades blows with Ohio State wide receiver David Boston in the first quarter of Michigan's 20-14 victory over the Buckeyes.
Inside this section
Pp Michigan cornerback Charles
Woodson may have proved he is
the best olaver in the country.
* -
',
How to get tickets
University of Michigan students, faculty, staff and
alumni are eligible to purchase tickets for the 84th
Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Student tickets will
he nnl eflcn n 2- antYot Ic Arena hetwan nnon
nobody else.
And never before has a Michigan team been
this good, this talented, this determined and this
well-coached. The Wolverines have suited up
for 119 years - and this is the best football
team the school has ever fielded.
Trips to Pasadena used to be commonplace
for Michigan. The Wolverines used to be one of
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